Le Petit Zinc

Have been eating here every so many years over the last 25. Now it had been at least 5 years ago and it definitely went down. I ordered a glass of 2002 saint emilion and had a waiter wisk by, pouring something my glass without showing the bottle. The taste was definitely not what i had ordered. Called the waiter and yep... they had given me a 2007 saint-estephe (end of the bottle). The meat was still as good as i remembered it but service was hasty and sloppy. No more. From a 'classic' it has become a tourist stop.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Sunday, March 28, 2010

Looks lovely and inviting from the outside, but the service was poor and the food worse. My husbands Crab salad was bland and looked liked something my 11 year old could throw together, my 12 prawns at 20Euros were ok but nothing special, I then had Scallop risotto, the scallops were nice but I can make a much much better risotto at home and my husbands sole again was ok but for over 30euros we expected a lot more. We came here for our wedding anniversary last week and were hugely disappointed. Stay away!
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 0
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

My wife and I live in Paris and speak fluent French, which is why we stay away from restaurants that overcharge and underserve, so to speak. Well, we blew it last night, for sure, by giving in to the temptation to try this neighborhood restaurant that always seemed attractive and lively, from the outside. Once inside, I have to admit, the decor was encouraging, and there is no doubt that this is a beautiful and romantic place. But that's where the pleasure stops. The food ranges from average to mediocre, the prices are way out of proportion for what they give you, and the service is, to put it politely, inept and uncaring. In fact, they did something I never encountered in a restaurant before: The waiter made a mistake in taking one of the orders, and when he started to place the silverware for the main course, this alerted us as to the mistake (he wrote down a veal dish, instead of fish). We pointed out the mistake, but nonetheless, when he showed up ten minutes later with our three meals, he still brought the wrong dish for our guest, saying that he realized it was an error, but that if she wished, she could change it. Of course, faced with the prospect of two of us having already been served and having to wait for a new order while we either ate without her, or let our dishes get cold while we waited for hers, we accepted it. The waiter, also of course, knew perfectly well what he was doing, manipulating us in a completely unacceptable way. It was a totally repulsive experience, and I had to apologize profusely to our guest for putting her though this.

I strongly recommend that you stay away from this one.
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Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 1
Saturday, November 14, 2009

We booked a table for 7 at 9.30 and duly arrived at the restaurant, there were about another 15 people standing around the entrance, they too were waiting for their tables.

We waited for over an hour, and still didnt have a table, there is nowhere to sit or wait while you have a drink so you are forced to just stand at the entrance waiting.

There are 2 sittings but the maitre d' made no attempt to get the party at "our" table to move - nor did he offer us much in the way of an apology or explanation. Eventually after waiting very patiently for an hour and ten minutes we left, by then it was 10.40, we were very hungry and our evening was in tatters.

My advice would be dont book for the second sitting, and dont go if there are more than 2 of you!
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Jacky Kearns
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, March 30, 2009

My wife and I enjoyed a very good meal at Le Petit Zinc on Sunday 31 August. We did however feel that the overall experience was slightly let down by the rather hit and miss service. The welcome was warm and friendly, and our aperitif and food orders were taken quickly (although this was when the restaurant was only half-full at 8pm). Both entrees and mains arrived in good time and were excellent (although my wife complained that her steak could have been hotter). Chicken with creamy wild mushroom risotto was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, having finished our main dishes, we then sat looking at our empty plates for at least 45 minutes before I eventually lost patience and had to flag down a waiter to clear our table and offer us dessert menus. Thereafter, the service was again well-paced. Oh, and the profiteroles were simply divine. We were in no hurry, so weren't hugely put out by the wait, but to do so with empty plates (and glasses) made us feel like we had been completely forgotten by the staff which was a real shame as it was the only downside to an otherwise lovely experience.
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Richard, London
Monday, September 01, 2008

Hopeless. Having booked a table at this restaurant for 8.30pm one Saturday evening, I was surprised when our group of four arrived to be told that we would have to wait 20-30 minutes for a table. There was no problem with the booking - they had a record of it and I spoke to the same waitress that I had made the booking with earlier that day. But apparently I had "not chosen a good time to book for" and it was "normal to wait when you have a reservation". Since there was apparently no bar area in which we could sit we were given the option of standing outside or returning in 30 minutes. In an attempt to salvage the evening I agreed to do this, and so we popped into a nearby bar for a drink. On returning at 9pm and speaking to the same staff again I was surprised to be told that I must wait "at least 15-20 minutes" more for our table. When I queried politely why there appeared to be four empty tables (each with four seats) in the middle of the restaurant I was told that "there is no waiter for these tables".

At this point I took the only sensible decision available and we had a very pleasant meal in a restaurant around the corner run by people who know what they are doing.
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Monday, August 11, 2008

visited this just by 'accident' on recent trip to paris with my daughter - we had been walking around shopping for about 9 hours and this was just nearby when we decided it was time to stop for the day - waited outside for a little bit but no problem sitting at the little cafe table with a glass of wine while we waited - everything great from food, service, atmosphere - would definitely go again - risotto was esp flavourful, creamy and delicious
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michele toronto
Monday, August 11, 2008

So I am not the only one....Special trip to Paris spoilt by a visit to Zinc....terrible service....average food....nice place.....high prices. The French family at the next table had wonderful service and their food looked good. I think its a case of welcoming tourist euros.....
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Dr Hanif Ismail
Wednesday, August 06, 2008

I have enjoyed this restaurant on two different trips, the first being in March of 2006, the second visit in April of 2007. Both visits were extremely enjoyable.

The service was competent, the food- excellent, the wine list, quite good, and the atmosphere exceptional. I always recommend this gem to friends heading to Paris, and all have been pleased with the choice.
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T. Duerringer
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Food was not exceptional, but we found service and atmosphere a lot of fun. Especially enjoyed the "Zinc" cocktails. We had a great evening! For visitors and tourists not used to the Parisian way, service might seem slow. Diners just need to sit back and enjoy the moment.....no hurry, no worry.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008